Portable track.



E. A. AKERSON.

PORTABLE TRACK.

APPLIOATION FILED 13110. 27, 1909.

Patented July 19, 1910.

4To all whom 'it 'may concern:

PORTABLE TRACK.

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Be it known that l, ERNEST A. AKERSON,

-a citizen of the United States, residing at Lindstrom, in the county of Chisago and State of'Minnesota, have invented certainl new and useful Improvements in Portable Tracks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

rlhis invention relates to a portable track, and more particularly to a track which is adapted to be laid upon the roadway to facilitate the movement thereover of automobiles and similar vehicles when the grade and the condition of the surface are of such character -as to obviate the possibility of the continued forward movementof the vehicle as in normal circumstances.

Another object of the invention is to providea flexible portable track made up of a plurality of sections detachably connected and adapted to be arranged beneath the tread of the vehicle wheels to prevent the same fromslipping or skidding upon the road bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple device of the above character which is light andl conveniently carried, extremely strong and durable in construction and which will present a firm surface with which the vehicle wheels may frictionally engage.

With these. and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention when arranged in position for use; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the sections of the' track; and Fig. .3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing 5 indicates the flexible track sections. These sections are each formed of a plurality of thicknesses of fabric 5', preferably canvas. These layers of fabric are securely stitched together by the intersecting cross stitching A and the longitudinal edge stitching B. The opposite ends of each section are reinforced by means of the transverse binding strips 6, which are preferably ofthe same material as the layers 5 of the sections. However,

l i Specification of Letters Patent. Application led December 27, 1909. Serial No. 534,930.

may be constructed of heavier or stoute-r material ifv desired and aresecured to the ends vof the layers 5 b means of the stitching C. 1n one end o each of the sections, disposed through the binding strips and the layers of fabric and adjacent the opposite longitudinal edges of the sections, are the rings 7.. To the opposite end of each section the hooks 8 are secured. Thus when the track sections are laid in longitudinal alinement upon the road bed, the opposed ends of. the adjacent sections are detachably connected by engaging the hooks of one section through the rings of the other. It will be understood, however, that any other desired attaching means may be provided for connecting the track sections and l reserve the right to provide the same with other attaching devices than that above described.

In the operation of the track, when the automobile or other vehicle is ascending a hill, and arrives at a sandy portion of the road bed," the wheels of thevehicle owing to -the sandy condition of the road, revolve .u on the sand without propelling the vchlcle, the 'same remaining stationary. Antiskidding chains and other devices which have previously been devised to prevent the skidding of the vehicle wheels are entirely ineffectual when such a contingency arises and it is often necessary for the occupants of the vehicle to seek assistance to release the vehicle from its stalled position. It is in such cases that-my improved portable track is adapted to be used, .a plurahty of the secthis is not essential as the binding strips Patented July i9., Q.

tions 5 being connected as above described and laid beneath the tread of the vehicle wheels. The wheels can thus obtain te ro er urchase or ri ino actionu ont e exijblelfrack and te gilsicliine thus bile readily moved. As the wheels move from one section of the track to the next adjacent section in advance, the rear section is detached and carried. forwardly and positioned upon the roadbed. This action is continued until the sandy .stretch of the road bed is passed, when the various sections may bedisconnected and compaetly arranged in any convenient place in the body of the machine.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provideda very simple device which will materially facilitate the progress ofautomobiles and other power driven vehicles ovv r sandy or treacherous road beds whereon the wheels can obtain no proper frictional engagement.

v The invention may bemanufactured at an extremely low cost, is of t utility and extremely durable and highly eiiicient in practical operation.

While I have shown and described the referable form of the invention and s ciflcally pointed out the manner in Whic the same is constructed, it .will be obvious thatl minor modifications relative -to the form, proportions, and details of construction are contemplated without necessarily departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. v Y

Having thus .described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A portable ltrack comprisingaplurality of iexible track sections adapted to be arranged in longitudinal alinement u on a road bed, saidV sections having rein orced ends, and attaching devices carried by said sections for detachably connecting the sections snbstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A portablel track comprising a plurality of flexible track sections, each of said sections consisting of aplnrality of layers of material, transverse binding strips secured to the opposite ends of said sections, said sections being adapted to be arranged in longitudinal alinement upon a road. bed, and means carried by the sections for detachably connecting the same substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

aereo;

a. A portable track ciprsng a plurality of track sections, each of said sections consisting of a plurality of thicknesses of `iexi ble material sewed together, said track sections bein adapted to be arranged in longitudinal a ement upon a road bed, and means carried by the opposed ends of the adjacent sections for detachably connecting said sections substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A portable track comprising a nluranty of track sections each consisting of a plurality of flexible thicknesses of material arranged in superposed relation and sewed together, transverse binding strips secured to the ends of said sections, said track sections being adapted to be arranged in longitudinal alineinent upon a road bed, and means secured to the opposed ends of the adjacent sections for detachably connecting said sections substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A port-able track comprising a plurality of flexible track sections adapted to be arranged in longitudinal alinement upon a road bed, rings carried by .one end of each of said sections, and hooks carried by the opposed end of the next adjacent section for detachably connecting the sections, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

ERNEST A. AKERsoN.

Witnesses: p Y

ADELIA A. AKERsoN,j y ALFRED P. NoTBERc. 

